Miyabita
By Kumori Ookami
Scroll One: Firelight, Moonlight, and Enlightenment
Shattering glass and a high-pitched feminine scream jerked the hanyou and his companions awake. Inuyasha jumped up and drew his sword almost before his eyes opened, and Kagome sat up quickly, causing Shippo to roll off her stomach. "Wh-what was that?" Sango reached for her bone boomerang, which was never far off. The four friends ran through the door and out to the covered walkway, searching for the source or cause. Inuyasha's ears were swiveling around, but all he could hear now were rapid footfalls heading for them. He spun around to see Miroku flying with the speed of all-powerful winds, and he grabbed Sango's arm as he passed. "Apparently the princess no longer enjoys our company." Sango rolled her eyes and ran on her own.
When they were a good ways away Kagome stumbled and sat on her heels. The others breathed deeply and Shippo peeked over Kagome's shoulder back in the direction of another palace that banned them, thanks to Miroku and his habit to choose a woman's company. "Well I hope you're happy, monk, because that's another good night's sleep you lost us," Inuyasha stated. "Do not doubt my intentions, I only wished the lady protection from-" "Your ominous cloud?" Sango interrupted. Kagome finished, "The one that appears over the finest tavern in the area? We've heard this one before, you can save your breath." Miroku blinked and sighed. "If that is how you see me…I don't suppose I could make it up to you?" To which both the girls shouted, "Don't even start!"
They set up camp that night in a clearing in between a cover of trees and the open fields, alongside a bubbling creek. Kagome and Sango set up their blankets on the opposite side of the fire from the hentai priest, just in case. Inuyasha had his arms folded in his sleeves, but after a few minutes of staring at the flames he got up and walked out of the range of light. He was trying to hide the light blush spreading over his face. Sango looked up at him, not noticing the tinge of pink. "He does this all the time; he'll go find some tree or another and fall asleep there instead. I think he just feels more comfortable in high places, " Kagome told her friend. They lay down and fell asleep in a few minutes, Shippo on Kagome's stomach, Kirara on Sango's pillow, and Miroku wondering why the princess didn't appreciate his earlier offer.
Silvery-white ears switched rapidly between folding back and pressing forward as the hanyou sat in thought. His golden eyes, usually hard and brittle, were now soft and they wavered and flickered, a candle flame. Inuyasha sighed and raised his eyes to the crescent moon, surrounded by brilliantly glistening stars. He was struggling with an inner battle that had plagued him for months. The thoughts bothered him more and more since that first time he became human in front of her. "Kagome," he breathed.
As usual he thought of Kikyo, but lately (and not just recently) he was thinking of Kagome first. He felt like he still loved Kikyo (at least that's what a small part of his mind told him), but only when sad memories washed over him. Her ceramic self was nothing like she used to be, and he realized he could never have the old Kikyo back. Kagome, though…Kagome was cheerful, and even sweet and kind if you overlooked how many 'sit'-tings he had gone through from her. But unlike Kikyo, he thought about Kagome all the time. He enjoyed Kagome's company, her spunky personality, even her stubbornness that matched his own, and her sense of humor. He was happier in her company than he ever had been in Kikyo's. He couldn't fight the way he wanted to when she was around, he remembered saying that before, but he realized that he couldn't fight at all unless she was there. He was stronger and faster when trying to protect her. And the reason he went through the well after her and dragged her back was because he missed her, though he always said it was because of the jewel shards.
And about his damn ego! His ego always got in the way. Every time he was going to apologize or say something considerate, his ego took over and he blurted out sarcastic or cocky remarks. He never really meant it, but he could never take it back as he spent a good portion of the time after with his face in the dirt and the word "SIT!" ringing through his ears.
'I am happier when she's around, though. This feeling…I can't describe it. It's like part love, and part something else. It's not love like I've ever felt before, this is deeper, and warmer. With all the times we've fought against it…But I always want to hold her in my arms, for real this time. Breathe in her scent, and tell her that I love her, just so she knows.…Did I just say I loved her?' He shook his head, but then allowed a small smile to creep across his face. 'Sure, I could get used to that.' He thought it to himself for a few moments. 'I…I am in love with Kagome. I love her. I love her…' Then he frowned. There's no way he could ever tell her that. He always tried to protect her, wanted to keep her and call her his own, but then again he also referred to her as the 'jewel shard detector' more often than not. For the first time he realized what she must think. If that's all she hears from him, then she must think that's all he sees her good for. 'But that's not true at all! Maybe…someday…I could tell her how I really feel? I know I should.' He spent the next few minutes trying to come up with a good way to tell her, a way that would not let his ego slip in the conversation.
One of his ears turned back to a sound behind him. "Whadya want, Shippo?" he asked, nicer than he meant to. The little kitsune crawled out of the bushes beside the resting hanyou and sat down next to him. Inuyasha felt a tiny paw place something in his hands, and he looked down at the chocolate bar. He smiled, unwrapped the candy and began eating it. "Why so nice all of a sudden, Shippo, hm? You want something?" The young fox kit looked up at him with big eyes and shook his head. "Ya know, Inuyasha…" the little kit began, carefully as if in pain or expecting to be soon, "if you let your guard down a little you might get to know the people around you… Not everyone's gonna like you, but not everyone's against you either. You're surrounded by friends every day and you rarely turn to them." The inu hanyou's ears slid sideways. "Huh?" Shippo held his arms wide, "Us. Miroku and Sango and me and Kagome. Don't you think of us as your friends? I mean, people try to be nice to you and sometimes, I think…you don't see it." What normally would've earned the kit a pounding turned out to be a great deal of wisdom. And it made Inuyasha think on that. He wasn't alone. He grew up in a world with good points and bad, but he only saw the pain and suffering. When he closed himself off from that world he saved himself from the bad, but avoided the good as well. He needed to figure out when to let out a little. He did have friends around him. "Thanks, Shippo." Shippo opened his eyes (he had braced himself for rage) and looked up, shocked, at the uncharacteristic side of the half-dog demon he thought he knew so well.
Startling icy blue eyes watched the same moon that Inuyasha was looking at, but from a very different perspective. A clear feminine voice spoke softly, "It's been pretty relaxing around here with nuttin' to do." She frowned. "It's monotonous. I'm gonna have to change that." She yawned, stretched, and grinned, letting a fang show through her lips. "Maybe I can convince puppy-Yasha to help me. But that can wait 'til tomorrow. I need to rest, hai, and save my strength. If he's anything like Sesshomaru he's gonna be tough." Her eyes lost the childish glow though, and glistening tears shone turning the ice to crystal as she remembered why she was after Inuyasha in the first place. The true reason she was traveling alone. She bowed her head until her bangs covered her eyes and cried softly, every few moments a name escaping her lips in small gasps and choked-through sobs: "…Haruki…."
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Hey, Kagome here! Who is this new girl? Is she looking for a fight? Inuyasha, is she really stronger than you? She says she survived an attack by Sesshomaru, and by the way she's fighting, I'll believe it! And…what is she, anyway? Next time on Miyabita, Not a Demon? See ya then!
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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, I do however own the idea for this story…. This disclaimer hereby states that Inuyasha, characters, ideas, etc. are copyrighted to Ms. Rumiko Takahashi only, and goes for all the chapters following this one.
A/N: Hey all! This isn't my first fanfic but it's my first on ff.net! And I think you owe me a nice warm welcome, ne? Well, instead of spendin' lots of money on a party or whatever, how about you give me a nice review? It's free and you may win a car!…..Ok, no cars, but maybe I'll give ya some recognition. You can review and give me public credit, or you can e-mail me at shippou_ookami112@hotmail.com, or you can do both and completely boost my ego! ^.^ And gomen about this being kinda short and slow-coming, I'm working on that.
Btw, I know that my hanyou's name is spelled Inu-Yasha, that's how Rumiko Takahashi put it so that's obviously the right one, but it's easier to just put Inuyasha and leave it at that. I hope you forgive me! A few names are spelled differently depending on whether the author uses the proper name for America or Japan. I will use whichever one sticks in my head and is easier to remember. Gomen for some people seeming a bit out of character, and some have very small parts. I'm working on that too…^.^;;
One more thing; I really have no idea how long Kagome stays in Feudal Japan with Inuyasha, and I'd much rather not think about what time frame this is in according to the series, so I'm taking the easy way out and just not mentioning time, ok? Hope ya don't mind. This neko seirei is [finally] signing off!
